The World Health Organization today released a report highlighting the first-ever list of fungal “priority pathogens” – a catalogue of the 19 fungi that pose the greatest threat to public health.
The WHO fungal priority pathogens list (FPPL) is the first global initiative to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens based on unmet R&D needs and perceived public health importance.
The WHO FPPL seeks to focus and drive additional research and policy interventions aimed at strengthening the global response to fungal infections and antifungal resistance.
Fungal pathogens pose a significant threat to public health because they are becoming more common and resistant to treatment, despite the fact that only four classes of antifungal medicines are currently available, with few candidates in the clinical pipeline.
The majority of fungal pathogens lack rapid and sensitive diagnostics, and those that do exist are not widely available or affordable on a global scale.
Invasive forms of these fungal infections frequently affect critically ill patients and those with significant underlying immune system issues.
Cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease, and post-primary tuberculosis infection are among the populations most vulnerable to invasive fungal infections.
According to emerging evidence, the incidence and geographic range of fungal diseases are both expanding globally as a result of global warming and increased international travel and trade.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the reported incidence of invasive fungal infections among hospitalized patients increased significantly.
As the fungi that cause common infections (such as candida oral and vaginal thrush) become more resistant to treatment, the risks of more invasive infections in the general population rise.
“Emerging from the shadows of the bacterial antimicrobial resistance pandemic, fungal infections are growing, and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide”
Said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Despite growing concern, fungal infections receive little attention and resources, resulting in a lack of high-quality data on fungal disease distribution and antifungal resistance patterns. As a result, the precise burden of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance is unknown, undermining the response.
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